Key-operated electric controller with improved actuating means



KEY-OPERATED ELECTRIC CONTROLLER WITH IMPROVED ACTUATING MEANS Filed April 25, 1966 L. PONSY Jan. 23, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 I a 6 7 5 W 7 7 H B F w H 9 4 4M 1 k TIL 4 Q ME 1 M r 4/ 8 9) k F ..A j W, wmw H 9% u 6 7 3 P! 4 2 6 J .5 w k /V A R I 4 7 w/// IN 00 731K m 6 2 4 w 2 m 01.0 n 4 H w A 5 A,

w 00 non o n on F L. PONSY Jan. 23, 1968 KEY-OPERATED"ELECTRIC CONTROLLER WITH IMPROVED ACTUATING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 25; 1966 4 wh r Jan. 23, 1968 L; PONSY 3,365,555

KEY-OPERATED ELECTRIC CONTROLLER Filed April 25, 1966 WITH IMPROVED ACTUATING MEANS 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 L. PONSY Jan. 23, 1968 KEY-OPERATED ELECTRIC CONTROLLER WITH IMPROVED ACTUATING MEANS Filed April 25,

nited States Patent 3,365,555 KEY-OPERATED ELECTRIC CONTROLLER WITH HMPROVED ACTUATING MEANS Louis Ponsy, 23 Ave. Charles de Gaulle, Montmorency 95, France Filed Apr. 25, 1966, Ser. No. 544,735 Claims priority, application France, Apr. 30, 1965,

15,285, Patent 1,448,067 (Ilaims. (Cl. 2tltl5) This invention relates to electric controllers which are operated by separate keys, wherein the actuation of each key either closes or opens a plurality of circuits at the same time, whether such circuits are independent of each other or not.

In key-operated controllers of known types, each key is slida'bly mounted so as to actuate a certain number of contacts assigned thereto and usually placed one above the other, the number and arrangement of which correspond to the electric circuit to be established by the key considered. In view of the fact that all the contacts needed for the combination which said key is intended to produce must be associated with each key, complex circuit arrangements call for a large number of contacts which are frequently the same for different keys and which are necessarily interconnected externally, with the result that the controllers are both cumbersome, costly and difiicult to connect up. Furthermore, the number of contacts assigned to each key is necessarily limited especially in the case of industrial power supplies since the apparatus would otherwise prove 'both cumbersome and costly. It is for this reason that, in many cases, key-operated controllers are not employed in industrial applications of medium and high power.

The object of this invention is to provide an electric controller of simple and economic design which is not subject to the above-noted disadvantages.

To this end, the inventor has started from theprinciple that, in the majority of cases, a certain number of common connections are established in a number of combinations of circuits to be obtained, with the result that it would be an advantage to provide one single-pole switch for each connection to be established and suitable means for selectively actuating said single-pole switches as a function of the circuits to be established for each combination.

The electric controller in accordance with the invention accordingly consists of a group of electric single-pole switches which are equal in number to all the single connections to be established within all the circuits which the apparatus is intended to control, a group of separate mechanical control members each corresponding to one combination of circuits to be made or broken, and intermediate members for providing a coupling between each control member and the moving contact-holders of the only switches necessary for establishing single connections in the combination which corresponds to the control member considered.

By virtue of this novel concept, it is possible to construct controllers of very simple design in which the same contacts are utilized a maximum number of times in the different combinations. In addition, such controllers can be manufactured and assembled in large-scale production with great ease inasmuch as all the switches provided therein are of identical single-pole design, irrespective of the circuit to be established. These simple unitary switches can be designed for high electric power ratings and it is merely necessary for this purpose to dimension them accordingly.

In a preferred form of embodiment, all the switches are mounted side by side on a common support and each ice control member preferably consists of a Sliding key coupled to a moving crossbar which is disposed above the switch unit, whilst the intermediate coupling members aforesaid consist of thrust members which are interposed between each moving cross-bar andthe moving contactholders of only those switches which are to be actuated by the moving cross-bar considered and consequently by the corresponding control member.

The form of embodiment hereinabove described permits the separate assembly of a contact unit fiormed as a result of the juxtaposed assembly of single-pole switches which are all of identical design and of sufiicient number to meet the requirements of the total number of simple connections to be established in order to produce all the different combinations envisaged, without any consideration being given to the corresponding electric circuit arrangements. At the moment of assembly of the contact unit and the set of mechanical control members which is also mounted separately, it is merely necessary to place the thrust members judiciously between the control cross-bars and the moving contact-holder of the switches involved in order that only those contacts of each combination to be produced should in fact be closed as and when the corresponding key is actuated. This design concept, which consists both in the separate assembly of the diiierent groups of constitutent elements of the apparatus, independently of any consideration of electric circuits, and in the independent arrangement of these circuits, results in simplified manufacture, the possibility of productionline assembly, and a reduction in cost price.

A better understanding of the invention will be had from a perusal of the following description and from a study of the accompanying drawings in which a certain number of forms of embodiment of the invention are shown by way of example and not in any limiting sense.

In these drawings:

FIG. 1 illustrates diagrammatically in perspective the principle of an electric controller in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 shows three resistances which are to be coupled by means of a controller according to the invention to a three-phase power supply system either in a star connection or delta connection;

FIG. 3 shows the star connection of the resistances shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 shows the delta connection of the same resistances;

FIG. 5 is a transverse cross-section taken along the line VV of FIG. 6 and showing a first form of embodiment of a controller according to the invention;

FIG. 6 is a longitudinal cross-section taken substantially along the chain-dotted line VIVI of FIG. 5;

FIG. 7 is a transverse cross-section taken along the line VIIVII of FIG. 9 and showing a second form of embodiment of a controller in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 8 is a partial cross-section taken along the line VIIIVIII of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 shows in the top portion thereof a plan view of the apparatus of FIG. 7 and, in the bottom portion thereof, a cross-section taken along the line IX-IX of FIG. 7;

FIGS. 10, ll, 12 are views in elevation of the moving cross-bars which are coupled respectively with the corresponding keys of the controller of FIGS. 7 to 9;

FIG. 13 is a view in perspective of the body only of one of the switches of the controller of FIGS. 7 to 9;

FIG. 14 illustrates in transverse cross-section a third form of embodiment of a controller in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 15 is a partial cross-section taken along the line XV-XV of FIG. 14; and I FIG. 16 is a partial cross-section taken substantially along the chain-dotted line XVI--XVI of FIG. 14.

In order that the invention may be clearly understood, consideration will first be given to the very simple problem of the star-connection and delta-connection of three resistances AB, CD and EF (as shown in FIG. 2) on the three lines RST of a three-phase power supply system.

FIG. 3 shows the mode of connection of said resistances in a star circuit whilst FIG. 4 shows the mode of connection of the same resistances in a delta circuit. It will be noted that three simple connections, namely RA, SC and TE are established in each of the two circuits, with the result that three common single-pole switches can be employed for these two circuits. In addition to these three single-pole switches, the star connection of FIG. 3 calls for two supplementary single-pole switches for the purpose of establishing respectively the connections BD and DF. The delta circuit of FIG. 4 in turn calls for three single-pole switches in addition to the three common switches mentioned above for the purpose of establishing the connections AF, ED and BC. In order to establish these two circuits in a star-connected and delta-connected grouping, it is therefore merely necessary to make provision for a total number of single-pole switches which is equal to eight. On the basis of this principle, it is simply necessary in the example considered to construct a contact unit comprising eight single-pole switches and control members designed to effect either the closure of the three common single-pole switches referred-to above and the closure of the two single-pole switches which are necessary for establishing the star connection of FIG. 3, or the closure of the same three common single-pole switches and the closure of the three additional single-pole switches which are necessary for the purpose of effecting the delta connection of FIG. 4. It is apparent that the controller must also be designed so that, in the inoperative position, all the switches are open.

FIG. 1 shows diagrammatically in perspective, with portions broken away, a controller which is constructed on the principle which has just been set forth. A number of single-pole switches 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, etc., are assembled together in juxtaposed relation and clamped on two assembly rods 51 so as to form a separate unit. In the example which is illustrated, the controller is intended to permit the establishment of three different combinations of circuits. To this end, said controller comprises three operative keys, of which only one key has been shown in the drawings, namely the key 3. The fourth key 4 is intended to determine the neutral position in which all the circuits are broken. The three keys such as the key 3 are adapted to actuate respectively three moving cross-bars 7, 8, 9 formed by the central arms of three yokes, the lateral arms of which are pivotally mounted at the extremities thereof on a shaft 11 which is rigidly fixed to the frame 2 and which extends in a direction parallel to the direction of assembly of the different single-pole switches 1a, 1b, etc.

The three moving cross-bars 7, 8, 9 extend in overhead relation to all the switches and each cross-bar is capable of actuating only a certain number of switches, depending on the combination of circuits to be established. Thus, in the example shown in the figure, the moving cross-bar 7 actuates only the switches 1a, 1b and 1e by means of thrust members 14, 15, 16 which are made integral respectively with the moving contact-holders of the switches considered and which are located immediately beneath said moving cross-bar.

The structural assembly of the single-pole switch 16 is shown diagrammatically in FIG. 1 by way of example and consists of a base 18, two stationary contacts 21, 22 carried by said base and a moving contact 23 which is capable of short-circuiting the two stationary contacts 21, 22 and which is supported by a contact-holder 24, said contact-holder being slidably mounted in the base 18 so as to move in a direction at right angles to the direction of assembly of the switches. The restoring spring of the moving contact-holder is designated by the reference 25 and the bearing spring of the moving contact is designated by the reference numeral 26. The thrust member 16 is integral with the moving contact-holder 24.

In the section of the controller which is shown in FIG. 1, the moving cross-bar 8 actuates only the switch 1e by means of the thrust member 27 and the moving cross-bar 9 actuates the three switches 10, 1d, 1e by means of the three thrust members 31, 32, 33 which are respectively integral with the moving contact-holders of said three switches.

The key 3 is integral with one end of a rod 36 which is adapted to slide within a stationary guide 37. The other end of said rod is fitted with a roller 38 mounted in an elongated slot 39 which is formed in a rocker-arm 41 so as to constitute a cam. Said rocker-arm is pivoted at one end on the shaft 11 and is provided with a lug 42 which is in contact with the top edge of the moving cross-bar 7.

When the key 3 is depressed, the rocker-arm 41 is caused to pivot in the direction of the arrow f1 and the lug 42 of said rocker-arm pushes back the single moving cross-bar 7. The operation of the key 3 therefore initiates the closure of all the single-pole switches which correspond to the first combination of circuits.

Similarly, the second moving cross-bar 8 can be actuated from another key by means of a transmission system consisting of another rocker-arm which is similar to the rocker-arm 41 and provided with a lug which is in contact with the top edge of said moving cross-bar 8. Similarly, the third moving cross-bar 9 is actuated by another key (not shown in the drawings) by means of another rocker-arm having a lug which is in contact with the top edge of said cross-bar.

When any one of the operative keys referred-to above is pressed down, the result thereby achieved is to actuate only the corresponding cross-bar and therefore only those switches which are intended to establish the circuits corresponding to the desired combination.

It is apparent that the apparatus is provided with a conventional locking system of any suitable type whereby any key which is engaged in the depressed position is released when another key is pressed down.

To this end, there is shown diagrammatically a lockingbar 45 which is adapted to slide in a direction parallel to that of the shaft 11 and which is urged elastically in the direction of the arrow f2 by a spring, not shown. Said locking-bar 45 is provided with a locking recess such as the recess 46 opposite to each rocker-arm such as the rocker-arm 41. A nose or catch 46a is formed in the side wall of each recess. The top edge of said nose is downwardly inclined and the bottom edge is parallel to the direction of the locking-bar. Each time a key is depressed for actuating a cross-bar, the end of the corresponding rocker-arm such as the rocker-arm 41 comes into contact with the top inclined face of the corresponding nose 46a and consequently displaces the locking-bar 45 in the direction opposite to that of the arrow f2, thus automatically effecting the release of another rocker-arm such as 41 which may previously have remained in the engaged position. At the end of travel of the rocker-arm 41 which has been actuated, the extremity of said rocker-arm is prevented from returning upwards by the nose 46a which has moved into position over said extremity as a result of the backward motion of the locking-bar 45 in the direction of the arrow f2 and under the action of the restoring spring of said locking-bar.

The neutral-position key 4 is adapted to actuate a rocker-arm 41a, the extremity of which is adapted to cooperate with a recess 48 having a corresponding inclined wall but in which no stop-catch is provided since its function is simply to release the last operative rocker-arm which remains in the engaged position. The rocker-arms which actuate the moving cross-bars are lifted by the restoring springs 25 of the corresponding switches, whilst the rocker-arm 41a of the neutral-position key is returned upwardly by a spring consisting, in the example shown, of a piano wire 49 which is coiled around the shaft 11. One end of said spring is applied against the bottom edge of the rocker-arm 41a whilst the other end is applied against the rod 51 which is employed for the assembly of the contact unit and which is rigidly fixed to the frame 2.

The preparation of the parts which are necessary for the construction of a controller of this type for a given circuit arrangement is very simple. As has been explained earlier, it is in fact merely necessary to utilize a certain number of identical single-pole switches such as the switch 1a, the number of which is equal to that of the single connections to be established in all the combinations of circuits to be obtained. The assembly is also very easily performed since all of these switches need merely be stacked one next to the other without any need for concern as to the circuit arrangement to be obtained. The switches are mounted on a support frame equipped with a certain number of moving cross-bars and operative keys equal in number to the combinations of circuits to be established, then fitted at the last moment with the thrust members which correspond to the requisite circuit arrangement.

The connections between the contacts of the different switches can be effected very easily since they are all located on a same face of the bank of switches. The

connection of the apparatus itself is also simplified by reason of the fact that all the terminals are located on a same face, preferably at the rear of the controller.

The apparatus makes it possible to control high-power circuits since this merely entails the use of single-pole switches of sufficiently large size. In addition, electric circuits carrying currents of very different intensities can be controlled by means of the same controller, should this prove necessary, Finally, the apparatus can be constructed at a very low cost price since it can be mostly made up of cut-out components, as will become apparent from the exemplified forms of embodiment described hereinafter.

The controller which is illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6 is designed to permit five combinations of different circuits and accordingly comprises five operative keys of which only three keys, namely those which are designated by the references 51a, 51b, 51c, are shown in the fragmentary drawing. The neutral-position key is indicated at 52. The moving cross-bars in the form of yokes are indicated at 54, 55, S6, 57 and 58 and the shaft about which said cross-bars are pivoted is again designated by the reference numeral 11. The rocker-arms which are pivotally mounted on the shaft 11 and which are actuated by the keys 51a, 51b and 510 are designated by the references 61a, 61b and 61c respectively whilst the rocker-arm which is controlled by the neutral-position key 52 is designated by the numeral 62.

In the case, of each key such as, for example, the key 51b, the roller 38 which is located within the camslot 39 of the rocker-arm 61b is mounted on a pin 64 which is fitted within the inner extremities of the two checks of said key which, in this example, is a hollow casting.

The single-pole switches 1 are all of identical design. Each switch has an insulating base 66 of molded material; all of the base plates are assembled together in adjacent relation and traversed by two assembly rods 68, 69, the two ends of which are each secured by means of an inner nut 71 and an outer nut 72 within a slot 73 formed in two end-plates 74, 75; said end-plates form the corresponding lateral walls of a sheet metal casing 80 in which the complete apparatus is enclosed.

Each slot 73 is open at the bottom and the corresponding rod is positively locked in the end of said slot by means of a small plate 76 (as also shown in FIG. 1) which is folded back in the shape of a portion of angle-iron, one

flange of which is clamped between the nut 73 and the corresponding lateral wall of the casing 8t) whilst the bottom edge of the other flange is applied against a nose 77 of the end-plates 7 2, 75.

The rods 68, 69 which serve to support the switch bodies are preferably threaded over their entire length. By this means, the assembly of juxtaposed switch bodies can be conveniently clamped in the exact position which is desired by means of nuts 78, 79, irrespective of the number of said switches.

The two end-plates 74, are braced at the top by a cross-member 81 formed of bent sheet steel and having a cross-section in the shape of an inverted U. Said crossmember is secured to said end-plates by conventional means of any suitable type, for example by means of lugs 82 formed on the top edge of said end-plates and forcibly inserted in corresponding apertures formed in the central portion of the cross-member 81. The apparatus can be attached to a wall such as the wall $4, for example, by means of countersunk-head screws 85 which pass through an external back-plate 86 as well as said wall and which are fitted in die-stamped and tapped bores 87 formed in the central portion of the cross-member 81. A cover-plate 83 which is provided with suitable openings for the passage of the keys and forms a decorative grid is secured to the back-plate 86 by means of screws 89. Provision can also be made for a sealing gasket 99 which is interposed between the back-plate 86 and the decorative grid 83.

Slits 91 are formed in the flanges of the cross-member 81 for guiding the rocker-arms such as the rockerarm (:15.

The locking-bar is again designated by the reference numeral 45 and its restoring spring is a helical compression spring 93 which is fitted over said locking-bar, one end of said spring being applied against a shoulder 94 of said locking-bar and the other end thereof being applied against the inner face of the corresponding endplate 74.

Each rocker-arm such as 61b is fitted with a restoring spring 95 which consists of a piano wire coiled around the shaft 11 and the two ends of which are applied respectively against said rocker-arm and against the body of the corresponding switch.

In the form of embodiment which is illustrated, the moving contact-holder 97 of each switch is not slidably mounted as in the form of embodiment which is shown diagrammatically in 1 but is pivotally mounted by means of two trunnions 98 and 99 which are cast in one piece with said contact-holder and engaged respectively in an opening 191 of the body 66 of the switch considered and in the corresponding opening 101 of the adjacent switch body, the axes of said openings 101 being parallel to the shaft 11 or pivotal axis of the moving ross-bars and located very close to said shaft.

Each moving contact-holder 97 is fitted with a restoring spring 103. The moving contact 104 is carried by a stirrup 1&5 which is secured by means of two lateral lugs within the contact-holder 97 and subjected to the action of a spring 106.

The thrust members which are interposed between the moving cross-bars and the moving contact-holders of the switches consist of removable studs. Considered as a whole, the moving contact-holder 97 is adapted to carry three studs 107, 103, 11% which are intended to cooperate with the moving cross-bars 54, 5d and 57 respectively, each of said studs such as, for example, the stud 1%7 being provided with a tail-piece 111 which is fitted within a blind-end bore such as the bore 112 of the contactholder 97.

By virtue of the fact that the shaft 11 on which the moving cross-bars are pivotally mounted and the geometrical axis of the trunnions 9 8 of the moving contactholders are very close to each other, the relative displacement between each movingv cross-bar such as the crossbar 54 and the corresponding thrust member 107 is very small.

The lug such as 42 which is carried by each rockerarrn such as 61b is formed in this example by cutting-out said rocker-arm. Thus, each rocker-arm is provided at the time of manufacture with all the lugs which are capable of actuating all the moving cross-bars, with the result that, at the time of assembly, it is merely necessary to remove any lugs which are not required.

Each stationary contact such as the contact 21 is made integral with a right-angled terminal strip 114 fitted with a screw 115 for clamping the corresponding connecting wire, all the terminals being thus grouped together on the underface of the apparatus and thus made readily and conveniently accessible. It is of course understood that any other suitable method may be adopted for fixing the connecting wires or cables such as, for example, snapaction clamps or clips.

In view of the fact that all the cables terminate on same face of the apparatus, the controller may conveniently be provided with a hood for the purpose of protecting all the connections.

There is shown in FIGS. 7 to 12 another form of embodiment which differs essentially from the form of embodiment of FIGS. and 6 in that the moving contactholder 121 of each switch is slidably mounted for rectilineal motion within the body 122 of said switch, and that each moving cross-bar such as 124 is rigidly fixed within the corresponding key 125. T 0 this end, a tongue 126 is formed on said cross-bar as also shown in FIGS. 8 and and is engaged within two longitudinal grooves 127, 128 formed in two opposite internal faces of the key 125. In view of the fact that the cross-bar 124 is mounted in more or less overhung position within the corresponding key, it is therefore important to ensure that said key is perfectly guided in its sliding motion within the body of the apparatus. With this object in mind, each key such as the key 125 is provided with two longitudinal ribs 131, 132 of substantial length which are adapted to slide within two corresponding slots 133, 134 of a sheet metal cover 135 which is cambered in the shape of an inverted U, the central portion of which is provided with suitable openings for the passage of the keys and the two flanges of which are bent outwards at a right angle and along the edges thereof as shown at 136 and 137, so as to bear against the bases of the switch bodies 122.

In the example which is illustrated, the controller comprises three operative keys 125, 138 and 139 carrying respectively three moving cross-bars 124-, 141, 142 and a key 143 for restorting to the neutral position.

FIG. 11 shows the tongue 145 which serves to secure the moving cross-bar 141 within the key 133 and FIG. 12 shows the tongue 146 which serves to secure the moving cross-bar 142 within the key 139.

All the switch bodies are also assembled together so as to form an independent unit by means of two threaded rods 148, 149 on which are engaged the nuts 151, 152, 153, 154 for positioning and clamping the unit by means of two back-plates 155, 155a.

Said switch unit is then fixed on the cover 135 by means of two end yokes 166, 167 through which are passed two threaded rods M8, 149. The central portion of each yoke is applied against the ends of the vertical flanges of the U-shaped cover 135 Whilst the two cambered arms of said yoke such as 166a, 16612 and 167a, 16% are brought to bear against the outwardly bent edges of the cover 13-5 which are shown at 136 and 137.

Sheet metal end-plate 161, 162 are secured against the edges of both ends of the cover 135, for example by means of tongues such as 163 which are cut-out in one piece with the cover and turned back against said endplates.

The helical compression spring 171 for returning the key 143 which serves to set the controller in the neutral position is applied at one end within tic base of said key and at the other end against the top face of a supporting bracket 172 which is formed by a folded-back tongue of the end-plate 162. The reference numeral 174 designates the locking-bar which is adapted to slide at the two ends thereof within the two end-plates 161 and 162 respectively and the reference numeral 175 designates the restoring spring of said locking-bar. A locking finger 176 which is adapted to cooperate with the locking-bar 174 is fixed to each key such as by means of a rivet 173.

Each moving contact such as the contact 177 is made integral with the end of a rivet 178 which is adapted to slide within a hole of the corresponding extremity of the sliding contact-holder 121 and is subjected to the action of a helical pressure spring 179. Each moving contactholder such as 121 is returned elastically to the open or inoperative position by a helical spring 181 which is housed within an internal space 182 of said contact-holder and one end of which is applied against the base of an annular recess of said contact-holder whilst the other end of said spring is applied against two annular abutments 183 which are cast solid with the switch body 122 (see also FIG. 13).

In the example which is illustrated, two thrust lugs 186, 127 formed of cut-out metal are provided with a tail-piece which is engaged within corresponding recesses 188, 189 of the moving contact-holder 121 and serve as thrust members which are actuated by the moving crossbars 124 and 141 respectively. In a third recess 191, no lug is mounted with the result that the corresponding moving cross-bar 142 will not produce any action on this switch.

Depending on the circuit to be established, it is thus possible to set in position either one or a number of lugs in each moving contact-holder opposite to the corresponding cross-bars when said contacts are to be actuated by the key which carries the moving cross-bar considered, as has been explained earlier.

In the example which is illustrated, the apparatus comprises eight single-pole switches which are designated by the reference numerals 191, 192, 193, 194, 195, 196, 197 and 198 respectively. It can be visualized, for example, that the two switches 117 and 198 are actuated solely by the intermediate moving cross-bar 141 whilst the switch 196 is actuated by the cross-bar 124 and the switch 194 is actuated by the two end cross-bars 124 and 1 12.

As in the form of embodiment which is illustrated in FIG. 5, the apparatus can be secured by mean of a countersunk-head screw (not shown) which traverses the back-plate 86 and the support-frame wall 84 so as to engage in a tapped bore 87 formed in the top face of the cover 135, as can be seen at the top of FIG. 9, in which the outer back-plate 86 and decorative grid 88 are assumed to have been removed.

FIG. 14 shows another alternative form which is a combination of the principle of sliding contact-holders of the form of embodiment of FIG. 7 and the principle of moving cross-bars in the form of pivotal yokes of the form of embodiment of FIG. 5. There is slidably mounted within each switch body 203 a moving contact-holder 204 provided with studs such as those which are designated by the reference numerals 2115, 2%, 2&7 and which are capable of being thrust back by moving cross-bars 211, 212, 213 having the shape of yokes, the lateral arms of which are pivoted to a shaft 215. FIG. 16 show the lateral arms 216, 217, 218 which are riveted to one end of the corresponding moving cross-bars 211, 212, 213 and pivotally mounted on the shaft 215 which is in turn riveted to an end-plate 221 of the casing 222, said casing having the shape of an inverted U as in the form of embodiment of FIG. 7.

The mechanical coupling between each key such as the key 225 and the moving cross-bar 211 which is to be actuated by said key is provided by a connecting-arm 226, one end of which is pivoted about a pin 227 (as also shown in FIG. 15) inside said key whilst the other end is applied by means of the bottom of a notch 228 against the top edge of the moving cross-bar 211. The sliding motion of the key 25 is suitably ensured by means of two longitudinal ribs 131, 132 of substantial length which are housed within corresponding slots 133, 134 of the casing 222, as in the form of embodiment of FIG. 7.

The other constructional details are similar to those of the form of embodiment of FIG. 7 and the same parts are therefore again designated by the same reference numerals.

As will be readily understood, the invention is not limited to the forms of embodiment herein described and illustrated and a large number of modifications can be made therein, depending on the applications which are contemplated, without thereby departing either from the scope or the spirit of the invention.

It accordingly follows, for example, that the thrust mem 'bers consisting of studs or of lugs such as the lug 186 which are shown in FIG. 7 and which are fitted in recesses of the corresponding moving contact-holder could be replaced by similar studs or lugs fixed on the corresponding moving cross-bars or else could be formed in one piece with said cross-bars, for example by cutting-out.

Instead of being added to the moving contact-holders, the same lugs could be formed in one piece with said con tact-holders, especially by casting. In that case, each con tact-holder is provided with all the lugs which might be useful for the purpose of achieving all possible combinations and any lugs which are found at the time of assembly to serve no purpose would accordingly be removed.

In a further alternative form, the thrust lugs could also form part of a component which is, for example, cut out and fixed on the moving contact-holder, said component being similarly provided at the time of manufacture with all lugs corresponding to all combinations, any lugs not required at the time of assembly being accordingly removed.

Without departing from the scope of this invention, it would also be possible to replace the sliding keys by rotary or rocking keys which would produce action in the same manner on the moving cross-bars which actuate the switches and would engage at the end of travel with the moving locking-bar.

What I claim is:

1. An electric controller including a support, a plurality of single pole electric switches each provided with a movable contact holder and assembled adjacent each other on said support so as to form a separately mounted switch unit, a plurality of separate selectively movable mechanical control members and a plurality of movable cross-bars extending parallel to said switches, each control member being coupled with one said movable crossbars, said control members and said movable cross-bars being assembled to form another unit, said two units being separately constructed in a standard manner without any consideration being given to circuit arrangements, said electric controller further comprising intermediate coupling members consisting of thrust members interposed between each of said movable cross-bars and the movable contact holders of those switches only which are to be actuated by the cross-bar corresponding to a selected control member.

2. A controller according to claim 1 wherein the movable contact holder of each switch is slidably mounted in said switch in a direction at right angles to the direction of the line of said switches.

3. A controller according to claim 2 wherein said control members are slidably mounted in the controller in a direction parallel to the direction of sliding motion of said movable contact holders.

4. A controller according to claim 3 wherein each movable cross-bar is rigidly fixed on the corresponding control member.

5. A controller according to claim 3 wherein an intermediate rocker arm is interposed between each control member and the corresponding movable cross-bar, said intermediate rocker arm being pivotally mounted at one end thereof on a shaft which extends parallel to the length of said switch unit, each of said control member consisting of a key which is coupled to the corresponding intermediate rocker arm by means of a guide slot which forms a cam.

6. A cont-roller according to claim 1 wherein the movable contact holder of each switch is pivotally mounted on a shaft which extends in a direction parallel to the line of the switches.

7. A controller according to claim 6 wherein said movable cross-bars are each formed by the central arm of a yoke whose lateral arms are pivotally mounted at the ends thereof on a shaft extending parallel to the length of said switch unit and located in very close proximity to said pivotal shaft for said movable contact holders.

8. A controller according to claim 1 wherein said movable cross-bars are each formed by the central arm of a yoke whose lateral arms are pivotally mounted at the ends thereof on a shaft extending in a direction parallel to the line of the switches.

9. A controller according to claim 8 wherein an intermediate rocker arm is interposed between each control member and the corresponding movable cross-bar, said intermediate rocker arm being pivotally mounted at one end thereof on said shaft on which said lateral arms of said yoke are pivoted.

10. A controller according to claim 1 wherein an intermediate rocker arm is interposed between each control member and the corresponding movable cross-bar, said intermediate rocker arm being pivotally mounted at one end thereof on a shaft which extends in a direction parallel to the length of the switch unit.

11. A controller according to claim 10 wherein the coupling between each intermediate rocker arm and a movable cross-bar consists of a lug which forms part of a complete set of frangible lugs, one lug adapted to actuate each of the movable cross-bars, said lugs being formed in one piece with said intermediate rocket arm whereby that lug which is necessary for actuation of said predetermined switches is retained at the time of assembly of the controller while the remaining lugs are removed.

12. A controller according to claim 1 further comprising terminals all located on a same face of said controller which is formed by one face of each switch of said switch unit.

13. A controller according to claim 1 wherein each said thrust member which is interposed between a movable cross-bar and a movable contact holder consists of a removable lug which is force-fitted in a recess of one of said last two recited members.

14. A controller according to claim 1 wherein each said thrust member which is interposed between a movable cross-bar and a movable contact holder consists of a lug which forms part of a complete set of lugs, each lug being adapted to actuate one of the movable contact holders, said thrust member being formed in one piece with said movable cross-bar, said lugs being frangible whereby those lugs which are necessary for actuation of said selectively predetermined switches may be retained and the unnecessary lugs may be removed at the time of assembly of the controller.

15. An electric controller comprising a plurality of single-pole electric switches each provided with a movable contact holder, said switches being assembled in a line adjacent to each other so as to form a separately mounted switch unit, said movable contact holder of each switch being slidably mounted in said switch in a direction at right angles to the line of said switches, said controller further having a group of separate mechanical control members slidably mounted in a direction parallel to the direction of sliding motion of said movable contact holders, said control members forming a control unit 11 designed independently from said switch unit, said controller further having movable cross-bars disposed above said switch unit and extending the length thereof, said movable cross-bars being each formed by the central arm of a yoke whose lateral arms are pivotally mounted at the ends thereof on a shaft extending parallel to the length of the switch unit, a link arm for each said control members, one extremity of which is pivotally coupled to a said control member and the other extremity of which is pivotally coupled to one of said movable crossbars, said controller including intermediate thrust coupling members interposed between each of said movable cross-bars and selected movable contact holders of a 12 plurality of switches among said single-pole electric switches.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,914,629 11/1959 DAprile et al. 2005 XR 2,790,858 4/1957 Tseng et al. 2005 2,831,075 4/1958 Dumke et al 200-5 XR 3,127,482 3/1964 Hutt 2005 3,201,531 8/1965 Woodward 2005 ROBERT K. SCI-IAEFER, Primary Examiner.

I. R. SCOTT, Assistant Examiner. 

1. AN ELECTRIC CONTROLLER INCLUDING A SUPPORT, A PLURALITY OF SINGLE POLE ELECTRIC SWITCHES EACH PROVIDED WITH A MOVABLE CONTACT HOLDER AND ASSEMBLED ADJACENT EACH OTHER ON SAID SUPPORT SO AS TO FORM A SEPARATELY MOUNTED SWITCH UNIT, A PLURALITY OF SEPARATE SELECTIVELY MOVABLE MECHANICAL CONTROL MEMBERS AND A PLURALITY OF MOVABLE CROSS-BARS EXTENDING PARALLEL TO SAID SWITCHES, EACH CONTROL MEMBER BEING COUPLED WITH ONE SAID MOVABLE CROSSBARS, SAID CONTROL MEMBERS AND SAID MOVABLE CROSS-BARS BEING ASSEMBLED TO FORM ANOTHER UNIT, SAID TWO UNITS BEING SEPARATELY CONSTRUCTED IN A STANDARD MANNER WITHOUT ANY CONSIDERATION BEING GIVEN TO CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS, SAID ELECTRIC CONTROLLER FURTHER COMPRISING INTERMEDIATE COUPLING MEMBERS CONSISTING OF THRUST MEMBERS INTERPOSED BETWEEN EACH OF SAID MOVABLE CROSS-BARS AND THE MOVABLE CONTACT HOLDERS OF THOSE SWITCHES ONLY WHICH ARE TO BE ACTUATED BY THE CROSS-BAR CORRESPONDING TO A SELECTED CONTROL MEMBER. 